Selection Criteria for Intra-Arterial Thrombolytic Therapy by Initial SPECT

Abstract

We determined the selection criteria for intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy by initial single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT) using 99mTc-HMPAO. We studied 30 patients who were obtained early complete recanalization of the internal carotid territory occlusion. The residual CBF of non-infarction, infarction and hemorrhagic lesions judged by follow-up CT scan was evaluated semiquantitatively by calculating two parameters with pretherapeutic SPECT: the ischemic regional activity to cerebellar activity ratio (R/CE ratio) and asymmetry index (AI). The patient's neurological exam was evaluated according to the NIH stroke scale score. The patients were classified by follow-up CT into three groups: A) nine patients who had no or small infarction; B) fourteen patients who had medium or large cortical infarction; C) seven patients who had hemorrhagic transformation. No significant difference was observed in the interval from onset, UK doses, or site of occlusion between each group. However, the residua...